Great Day For The Charming Little Church Of St. Nick’s

Published at17:15, Oct 21 2014

It was an important day. A day of celebration and pride. A day when the bugle sounded truly marking the “arrival” of the Greek-American community.

It was a day when many elements came together: the blood, toil and sacrifices of a humble but high-minded immigrant community with a noble mission, to build a better future for their children. The success of the community rests on their shoulders.

It was a day, thanks to the efforts of talented and capable clergy, that gave expression and made possible the community’s dream.

Our people responded to the call of their heritage and ran, on a beautiful day, to be present, to be witnesses to history.

Everyone, in harmonious cooperation, contributed to a special day in the history of the community.

But it was also a day of grief – and anger. For the people who were lost on 9/11.

Grief for parents and other family members, who were lost in their thoughts about departed siblings, colleagues and friend.

It was also a great day for the Church, the “charming little Church,” St. Nicholas, as Archbishop Demetrios called it.

After 13 years, from the ashes and mountains of debris that resulted from that disaster of biblical proportions, new hope emerges in the form of a Church at Ground Zero, at a new World Trade Center, next to the evocative pools and fountains located on the footprints of the fallen towers.

In the shade of taller, stronger, more majestic towers, monuments of human imagination and endeavor, a sacred space will be created for employees who work in the area and visitors.

But it is also a new center for the community, for Hellenism.

On Oct. 18, the first steps were celebrated. Getting there was a difficult process. Opponents tried to push us around, and we made some mistakes. It took 13 years. It was the last project Ground Zero to begin.

But it happened. That’s what counts. We now must hope and work for a good finish.

And let’s also hope that that when the Church’ s doors open, as is expected, in 1 ½ or two years, a greater use of our Greek language will be done, worthy of our Church.